Area Lock and Key (205)-608-3470

Local Mobile Locksmith serving Jefferson county and Blount county in Alabama since 1994.
No 1-800 #'s and no call centers in some other state.
When you call our phone number you will be talking directly to a MOBILE LOCKSMITH in your local area.
We are a locally owned and operated Locksmith.

No 1-800 #'s and no call centers in some other state.

When you call our phone number you will be talking directly to a MOBILE LOCKSMITH in your local area.

We are a locally owned and operated Locksmith serving the Jefferson county and Blount county area in Alabama since 1994.

Open car door when keys are locked in the car.

Most
locksmiths, but not all, will let you back in your car should you lock
your keys inside. Like I said in an earlier post, the average response
time is between 15 and 25 min. give or take based on traffic.
When
you call we will get a detailed description of the vehicle and where it
is located. When our tech arrives he will first locate the vehicle,
then when located and positive ID made, If the customer is not at the car and doesn't show up in a reasonable time he will look inside to see if the
keys are visible,"NOTE" : if the keys are visible he will then open the car and remove the keys. Only then will he leave the car unattended to go search for you. YES
even if you are not at the vehicle. The reason for this is for YOUR
protection, there are a lot of crooks out there that would break the
window and drive away in your car. So I strongly suggest that you not
leave your car unattended if the keys are visible by looking through the window. If you must leave, to get to a phone to call
a locksmith, then try to have someone else watch your car for you or
after you call get back to your car as soon as possible or at least be
in a place where you can watch your car.
I can't STRESS this STRONGLY
enough, HERE'S WHY - Back in 1997 I was called out to unlock a guys
car, upon arrival I found the car and saw the keys in the ignition,
then went into the office building to locate the owner. When the owner
and I returned outside, the car was gone with only a pile of glass on
the ground. The car had been stolen.
So NOW it is our policy that if
the keys are visible and there is nobody around, We will unlock the
car and remove the keys. Then try to locate the customer or will wait
by the car until the customer returns.

When a key has been broken into 2 pieces, most of the time a key can be made from the 2 pieces.
You must have all pieces of the key!

If one of the pieces is still in the lock we have special small tools that we can use to remove the key from the lock. Yes we can even remove a broken piece of key from any ignition switch, in 20 years and thousands of cars, only on one occasion have we not been able to remove the key.
With that being said, there are exceptions to that, they include but are not limited to; customers attempting to remove the key by using ANYTHING!; including but not limited to paper clips, pliers, coat hangers, needles, super glue, screw driver, hammer, or anything else. Doing any of the things I listed above will result in permanent damage to your switch. So please call us to remove the key otherwise you risk ruining your switch, which can cost you hundreds of dollars to repair and also having the inconvenience of 2 separate keys to operate your vehicle.

So if you have a broken key, by all means take it to your local locksmith shop and they can make you another, either by copying or for a better guaranteed key have them make a code key from the broken one.
By visually sight reading the key, a code key can usually be made, providing it is not to worn out, this is a much better key than just making a copy of the broken key, which most locksmiths will NOT guarantee.

If you have a piece of it still in the lock, PLEASE call us before anyone damages the lock and we will be able to pull the piece out and make you a new key and the lock will still function as normal.

The truth about auto VIN numbers, they do not tell you how to make a key to a car, they never have. What the VIN number does tell you is the make, model, year, where it was made, what engine it it is supposed to have under the hood and lastly, the number sequence of that vehicle.

Now on some vehicles it is sometimes possible to retrieve a key code from the manufacturer using the VIN. Here is why this is possible in some cases. Not all manufacturers did this, and only a few are still doing this today, and it is being done even less as we go into the future.
Let's use Chevrolet for this example. For years as the car rolled off the assembly line an employee would make a file using the VIN number, inside this file he would add things such as what color the car was or what special added features the car had etc.... at the same time he would also record the key code for that car. So you see the VIN number is only a file number which the dealer can use to look up the key code.
Not all manufacturers did this. The few that did are beginning to do away with this practice.

Here's why,-- over the years as we moved into computers instead of files in file cabinets,when the info was transferred, some of the info was incorrectly recorded. I learned this over time as more and more of the key codes I retrieved from the manufacturer would not work. Because it was either incorrect or the car was so old that it had new locks because the old ones stopped working or the car had been in a wreck and a different door or steering wheel had been installed.
Still on occasion, and only if the car is not over 8 years old it may be possible to get a key code from the dealer. They will only give it to the legal current owner, in person. They won't give it to a relative or a friend, or over the phone. PERIOD! So take the cars tag receipt or title and ID with you when you go, or you will have wasted your time.

We can make a key to the car, we don't use the VIN number, because1. most car companies never recorded the key code.2. more often than not the code they give us is wrong.3. the few that did record the key code only keep records going back 8 years.

With all that being said there is ONE exception. All Chrysler products that have transponder keys require a code that is specific to each vehicle in order to program new keys. That number can only be retrieved from the manufacturer using the VIN number.

Here are some tips to make sure or to at least limit the chances that someone will try to enter through your garage doors.

1st. Clear all remotes out of system and then reprogram your remotes back in. That way you don't have to worry about who might have a remote that works your garage door.

2nd. Shorten the red manual release cord on the track to about 5 inches, so it will be tougher for a crook to use a tool to reach in and pull that in order to open your door manually.

3rd. If you have windows in your doors, tint them with window tint you can pick up just about every where, or cover them with curtains. That way the potential crook will not be tempted by the valuables you have in your garage since he won't be able to see them.

I can't stress enough how important number 1 is, I know of situations where entry was made by people who kept remotes to old houses. So please clear your system and then reprogram your remotes back in, now only your remotes will work the doors.

A LOT OF PEOPLE!!!

Here is what the general public does not know about.

1. When you buy a new home and are given the keys, trust me that's not all of them. here is all of the people who have or had your keys and might still have a copy.
The contractor and all of the subcontractors, which can be as many as a 100 people. The reason for this is convenience so that the workers can come and go as they please because they are usually working on more than one project at any one time. Plus most of these houses are mastered to one key so that the Realtor and contractor don't have to carry a ring of 30 or 40 keys with them.
They don't tell you this because they don't want you to make them absorb the cost of re-keying the locks so that you have the only key. Plus their job is to build the house as fast as they can to get it on the market and get a key to the Realtor, and in MOST cases even the Realtor is NOT aware of this information to even be able to pass it on to the buyer.

I know what your thinking, and YES, I personally do know of a couple of instances where some of the workers kept keys and burglarized houses in a few neighborhoods nearly 5 years later, after they worked on the houses. I heard about it from the home owners that called me out to re-key their locks after they were burglarized and also from my relatives who are in law enforcement.

2. Apt.'s and used homes are similar.
I know you think, well it's okay cause the old owners moved out of state or you know they are nice people, maybe even friends of yours. Okay? Ask yourself, who have they given keys to? Neighbors? Their kids? Ex husbands, ex wives, ex girl friends? and how many keys have their kids lost or had stolen from them? Can you trust all of those people? Do you even know all of those people? Plus, did they ever have the locks re-keyed when they moved in? Now how many keys are out there, that you don't know about?

So isn't it worth the small fee of usually around $100. to $200. to re-key your locks to have peace of mind and know that you have the only key to your house?

My company is run with the utmost integrity and honesty. Myself, nor any
of my employees have ever been arrested or have a criminal record for
any offense, PERIOD! (excluding minor traffic violations) I will
never hire anyone who has a criminal record.
This video demonstrates my companies integrity and honesty. A level of
which most other locksmiths do not exhibit, as this video will show
you.
Several years ago the local TV station Fox 6 did a locksmith
check/investigative story, to see if the local locksmiths would let just
anybody in a residence. In the video you will see that I am the only
one who attempted to verify if the person lived at the residence or
had the authority to gain access to the home. As you will see he could not provide proof of
ownership so I did not open the home for him.
I was the ONLY locksmith who did not open the door.

The bad news first is that nearly all Ford Focus ignition switches will fail. These switches were very poorly designed. Ford is well aware of this problem. But don't expect them to issue a recall, because this problem will not injure or kill anybody.

The good news is that if you oil the lock every 6 months or so using wd-40 or other silicone lubricant you can extend the length of time before it fails. Also if you are using a jiggle key-STOP!- because using a key that you have to jiggle to make it work will speed up the failure.
If using a jiggle key, get a code key made and use that. I explain this in my ' Car ign. lifespan post'.

The other good news is that my company can repair this ignition switch so that it won't fail again.
The cost ranges from $120.00 to $200.00, based on how worn down your key is.

When I repair the switch, it should out last the vehicle. I have been repairing these switches for over 5 years now, and have never had to repair one a second time.

If we can't fix your problem, or we can't do or complete the job, there is no charge and we will try to recommend someone who can help you.No other Lock company does this, PERIOD!When I say no charge, I mean nothing, not even a service call for coming out.No lock company or locksmith knows everything or can fix everything, but I am probably the only one who admits it.So I repeat, if we can't help you, there is no charge it won't cost you a penny and we will try to recommend someone who can help you.

Most car ignitions will last at least 80,000 miles even under heavy abuse and neglect. Although you can make them last the life of the car by doing a couple of little things.1. lubricate the keyhole with liquid lubricant such as wd-40 or graphite at least once a year. NOTE - If you live in a warm climate it is recommend that you use a liquid lube because using graphite in a warm humid climate, it turns into a thick mud that can cause the pins in the lock to stick. But if you live in a climate where the temperature can get into the negative numbers then you will fair better with graphite because wd-40 and other liquid lubes can get so thick as to cause the pins to stick inside the lock. Whenever using graphite always use very little because if you use too much it can clump in the lock and jam the pins and springs that are inside the lock. Using too much wd-40 won't cause any problems other than making a mess.2. Don't let your key get worn out and keep using it. Here is how you avoid this problem. Make sure you have 1 new key and never use it. Keep it and make duplicates from it and use the duplicates until they get worn, then you still have the new key to get another duplicate made that is not worn.NOTE - getting a duplicate does NOT make the key new again. New key means, new from the factory when you buy the car new or by getting a code key cut by a locksmith. The reason for this is because the action of inserting and removing the key from the lock causes the key to wear down over time, and getting a copy after extensive use will result in you getting a worn out copy. So I repeat again,
"NOTE" GETTING A DUPLICATE OR COPY OF A KEY DOES NOT MAKE IT A NEW KEY AGAIN!

Myth: Having multiple key chains will ruin your ignition.
Having a lot of key chains on your key will NOT ruin your ignition. Let me explain this, when you insert the key into the switch, you are supporting the weight of the keyring, once you turn the switch the lock casing, (which is thicker metal than a coat hook), is supporting the weight. Now there is a risk with having a lot of key rings on your key, the biggest one is the possibility of the weight causing a crack in the key that could cause it to break.
The act of using too much force or pressure while inserting or turning the key or using a worn out key is what ruins ignition switches. If you are jiggling the key to make it work, your key is most likely worn out. GET A NEW ONE! Before it ruins your switch.

Well the short answer is, a key with a computer chip embedded in the plastic head of the key. For a more detailed answer CLICK HERE. Almost all cars on the road today that have been made since the year 2000 have these types of keys. These keys are expensive, so guard them with your life. The equipment to program these keys is also expensive costing upwards of $4000.00. So needless to say even a duplicate of these keys can cost as much as $50.00 up to and beyond $150.00 on some models. YES my company can make these keys to most cars, either from scratch if all keys are lost or spares if you already have a key. Keep in mind if you need a spare and only have "1" key, it will cost more than if you have "2" keys and want a spare.

There are couple of ways that you can use most times to tell if your car has these types of keys or not. If your key was all metal "no plastic" and would start and run the car then it is not a transponder key. But if you look on the dash instrument panel and there is an orange light flashing that says either "theft" or "security" or a small round red light flashing either on top of the dash or in the dash near the instruments and your key had a plastic or rubber head, then more than likely your car does use a transponder key.

This is where we take the existing lock off the door and change the pins inside the lock so that the old key won't work anymore and you will get a totally new key. Then we put the lock back on the door. The only reason you would need to replace the locks is if they were worn out, or you just don't like the look of them.
Pricing - most all locksmiths price the same way and that is they charge per cylinder, or per keyhole. Both terms mean the same thing. A doorknob will have 1 cyl.- but some deadbolts have 2 cyl's. one keyhole on the inside and one on the outside. So you must count 2 cyl's for those locks that need a key to lock it from the inside, as well as the outside. Keep this in mind when adding up the number of cyl's. before calling for a price.NOTE "You must count every keyhole inside and outside on every lock and every door that you want to have changed."

Most locksmiths, but not all, will let you back in your car should you lock your keys inside. Like I said in an earlier post, the average response time is between 15 and 25 min. give or take based on traffic. When you call we will get a detailed description of the vehicle and where it is located. When our tech arrives he will first locate the vehicle, then when located and positive ID made will look inside to see if the keys are visible, "NOTE" if the keys are visible he will then open the car and remove the keys. YES even if you are not at the vehicle. The reason for this is YOUR protection, there are a lot of crooks out there that would break the window and drive away in your car. So I strongly suggest that you not leave your car unattended. If you must leave, to get to a phone, to call a locksmith then try to have someone else watch your car for you or after you call get back to your car as soon as possible or at least be in a place where you can watch your car. I can't STRESS this STRONGLY enough, HERE'S WHY - Back in 1997 I was called out to unlock a guys car, upon arrival I found the car and saw the keys in the ignition, then went into the office building to locate the owner. When the owner and I returned outside the car was gone with only a pile of glass on the ground. The car had been stolen. So now it is our policy that if the keys are visible and there is nobody around, We will unlock the car and remove the keys. Then try to locate the customer or will wait by the car until the customer returns.

Most all locksmiths have the ability to let you back in your house when you lock yourself out. But it is required, and in some states the law, that we be able to verify that the person we are letting in has a legal right to enter that premises. There are several ways in which we do this.1. The easiest and the first question we ask is does your drivers license have that address on it.

2. If you answer no to #1 then we use your license to verify who you are then ask if you have some sort of bill or piece of mail with your name and that address on it.

3. If you answer no to #2 then we ask if once we open the door are we going to be able to see a picture of you on the wall in the home or some sort of personal item such as a pay check stub, rental papers or other official paperwork of some kind with your name on it. we must be able to connect the dots between you and the house in some way.

4. If you are NOT the owner or renter of the property then you MUST have legal paperwork proving that you have the authority to enter the premises. Some examples include but are not limited to, Power of attorney, Executor of will papers, tax receipts where you pay taxes on the property, insurance papers with your name and that address on them, any official paperwork showing where you pay any of the bills on that property.

Those are just a few.

If you answer NO to all of the questions above you will find it near impossible for you to find a locksmith that will let you in.

Any HONEST locksmith will tell you that the average response time for a lockout is between 15 and 25 min. On rare occasions sooner if we happen to have one of our workers in your neighborhood at that moment. Sometimes slightly longer during rush hours due to traffic and school buses when school is in session.ALSO for those of you who are calling from anywhere on or near HWY 280, it is the most congested HWY in the state! So please you people have got to learn to have a little patience and be a little forgiving, you know how crowded that road is and how slow the traffic moves. It can take up to 20 minutes just to travel a 3 mile stretch of this hwy.

As with most businesses our work comes in floods. So should you be so unfortunate as to call in and get our voice mail it does not necessarily mean we are closed. So please leave your NAME, PHONE#, and a brief description of the work you need. Most times we are able to return your call within 5 min. Almost always within the hour.

If your call is not returned within the hour, then yes we are probably busy and we will try to return your call by the end of the day.